New York City is one of the busiest cities on earth. People are always hustling to get to work, do an errand, or get to some other destination. On top of all that, the city is almost in a perpetual state of getting fixed up. On any given day, someplace, somewhere in NYC is having construction work of some kind. At some point or another, everyone in NYC is going to walk past a construction site, underneath scaffolding, or near another building site of some sort. Unfortunately, sometimes people get hurt when walking by construction sites.
When you get hurt walking by a construction site in NYC, the most important thing is that you get the medical attention that you need. Following that, you should obtain as many details and as much information as possible right after the accident happens. Finally, you need to talk to legal counsel quickly so that you do not run out of time to file your case in court.
To get a free analysis of your claim from our New York personal injury lawyers, call The Carrion Law Firm at (718) 841-0083.
What Should I Do After Getting Hurt Walking By a Construction Site in NYC?
After you get hurt walking by a construction site, there are important things that you need to do. Of course, depending on the seriousness and nature of your injuries, you may not be able to accomplish all of these things. That is ok. Our New York construction injury lawyers will be able to help you out if you have done some, none, or all of these things.
Get Medical Aid
The most important thing to do after getting hurt near a construction site is to ensure that you get the medical care and attention you need. If you are critically injured and need to be evacuated right away, then that is what is going to happen. Similarly, if first responders determine that you need to go to a hospital quickly, then you should let them take you there. In either case, you will not have to worry about other steps after getting hurt since you will be taken away from the site of the accident.
Additionally, it is never a bad idea to seek follow-up medical care after getting hurt. Some injuries can remain hidden for a couple of days after an incident, either due to their nature or because the adrenaline was hiding those injuries at the moment.
Refusing medical care is a very bad idea. Not only can it jeopardize your health, but it can hurt future claims in court. New York uses something called “comparative fault.” Basically, this means that your damages can be reduced if you are found to be partially at fault for your injuries. Opposing counsel may try and use the fact that you refused medical care to hurt your case, so you should always get treated after an accident.
Obtain Information
If you are able to stick around, you need to get as much information as you possibly can. Take numerous photos and videos of the construction site, especially of the things that you suspect may have contributed to your injuries. Additionally, take the statement of any eyewitnesses who saw the accident happen, as they may be able to testify on your behalf in court. You should also try to speak to anyone working at the construction site to determine what construction company is doing work in that particular area. This can serve as a starting point for our attorneys to start figuring out who you should sue in your claim.
Call Our Offices
Finally, you should contact our lawyers right away. This gives our lawyers more time to prepare your claim. More importantly, it ensures that you file your claim before the statute of limitations runs out. A statute of limitations is a time period within which you must file your claim that is codified by law. Once the statutory period runs out, you can’t file a claim for your injuries anymore, so that means you won’t be able to get any damages, either. In New York, you have three years to file a personal injury claim pursuant to C.V.P. Law § 214(5). This may seem like a long time, but when you take into account getting all the evidence you need, forming a legal argument, and physical recovery into account, three years can be eaten up very quickly, so you should start the legal process as soon as you can.
Who Can Be Sued If You Get Hurt Near a Construction Site in NYC?
When you are planning a lawsuit after getting hurt near a construction site, an important thing to consider is who you are going to file your claim against. There may be multiple parties responsible for your injuries, so it is important that we find the right parties to sue so that extraneous defendants are not included in your claim.
Construction Companies
You should sue the construction company responsible for the relevant construction site in your claim. Construction companies need to ensure that they follow all safety precautions and keep their activities from harming the public. When people get hurt because of their negligent actions, they can be sued.
Property Owners
The owner of the building, plot of land, or other property being worked on can also often be sued. Property owners have a duty to keep their premises safe for people near or on them, so you can hold them accountable if they do not take steps to shield the public from work being done on their property.
Construction Equipment Manufacturers
If you were hurt because of faulty construction equipment or machinery, you can sue the designer or manufacturer of that machinery.
Talk with Our NYC Personal Injury Lawyers About Your Claim Today
Call The Carrion Law Firm at (718) 841-0083 and speak to our Brookhaven, NY construction injury lawyers about your claim today.